This feeling of invincibility is not warranted, and in many cases will be rewarded with death, dishonor and dismemberment.

When humanity squares up against nature's wrath, the smart bet is on nature. But despite all the creatures, boulders, weather and general awfulness that can can be visited upon humanity, some challengers break the mold.

No matter what the odds against survival are in any given situation, someone somewhere could "and has" wiggled their way out. Here are the 10 people who survived the impossible.